Choose the backup quality of your photos and videos

You can automatically save your photos and videos to your Google Account when you turn on backup. Learn how to back up your photos and videos.

Each Google Account comes with 15 GB of storage and you can always buy more storage or clean up your storage space.

You can also change the backup quality to fit your preferences or save storage space.

Important: If you're inactive in Google Photos for two years or more, your content may be deleted. Learn about the Google Photos inactivity policy.

Learn about your backup options

Original quality

Photos and videos are stored in the same resolution that you took them in with no change to their quality.

Photos and videos backed up in original quality count towards your Google Account storage.
Recommended for photos that have more than 16 MP and videos with more than 1080p.
Recommended for printing large banners.

Storage saver

Important: Any photos or videos that you backed up in high quality, now called Storage saver, before 1 June 2021 don't count towards your Google Account storage. Learn how to check a photo's backup quality.

Photos and videos are stored at a slightly reduced quality.

Photos and videos backed up in Storage saver count towards your Google Account storage.
Photos are compressed to save space. If a photo is larger than 16 MP, it'll be resized to 16 MP.
- You can print good quality 16 MP photos in sizes up to 60 centimetres x 40 centimetres.
Photos that you upload in Storage saver may be compressed into a different image format, like a .jpg.
Videos higher than 1080p will be resized to high-definition 1080p. A video with 1080p or less will look close to the original. Some information, such as closed captions, might be lost.
In some circumstances, certain photos and videos may not be compressed and will be stored at their original file size. Some multi-picture format (mpf) .jpgs can't be compressed; for example, portraits that you take on an Android device.

Express

Important: Any photos or videos that you've backed up in express quality before 1 June 2021 don't count towards your Google Account storage.

If you can't find this option in your backup settings, it isn't available in your country or region.

Photos and videos backed up in express quality count towards your Google Account storage.
Photos may be compressed to use less mobile data. If a photo is larger than 3 MP, it'll be resized to 3 MP.
You can print good quality 3 MP photos in sizes up to 15 centimetres x 20 centimetres.
Videos higher than 480p will be resized to standard definition 480p. A video with 480p or less will look close to the original. Some information, such as closed captions, might be lost.
In some circumstances, certain photos and videos may not be compressed and will be stored at their original file size. Some multi-picture format (mpf) .jpgs can't be compressed; for example, portraits that you take on an Android device.

Reduce the size of your photos and videos

If you have photos in original quality and want to save some storage space, change your already backed up photos and videos to Storage saver (previously named high quality). This setting won't appear if you have unlimited storage for Google Photos.

Important:

You can only recover storage once a day. Storage recovery won't change the quality of your future uploads.
In some circumstances, certain photos and videos may not be compressed and will be stored at their original file size. Some multi-picture format (mpf) .jpgs can't be compressed; for example, portraits that you take on an Android device.
- You can check if an item is ineligible for Storage saver. Learn how to check backup details.

On your computer, go to photos.google.com.
At the top, click Settings Manage storage.
Under 'Recover storage', click Convert existing photos and videos to Storage saver.

Change your backup quality

On your computer, open photos.google.com/settings.
Select a backup quality.

Tip: To check backup quality and size, go to a photo or video and click Info . You can find backup details under 'Details'.

If a photo or video can't be compressed, under 'Details', you'll find 'Not eligible for Storage saver'. This will only appear if you've tried to back up the item in Storage saver quality.

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